The System is Abstract, Luckily, So Am I

Chapter 182 : A Little Basic Attack

"I'll ask him before school ends this afternoon. He was just hoping to have a more interesting National Day holiday anyway," Lin Li said.

Bringing Bai Bufan along would indeed make things much more interesting.

At least if Bufan came, his own status wouldn't be the lowest. If he was in a bad mood, he could kill him a few times to vent.

"About how much will it cost?" Lin Li then asked.

Renting this kind of homestay wasn't cheap. It basically started at a thousand yuan a day, and for more luxurious ones, tens of thousands a day wasn't impossible. Not to mention it was the National Day holiday; if you didn't book half a month in advance, there would be a massive premium.

Lin Li didn't mind too much. He had, after all, managed to become a "ten-thousand-yuan household" through his own efforts. He wasn't opposed to spending money on this kind of thing.

A person has to live for themselves.

"Don't worry too much about the money. A friend of my mom's runs these kinds of homestays. That's why I said although the location isn't set yet, we'll choose from a few specific places, so there's no rush.

"It's because they have homestays in those places that they can reserve one for me. Even if we stay for the entire National Day holiday, it's free."

When she said the last word, Chen Yuying looked at Lin Li, her eyes sparkling with a little bit of joy and pride.

"Impressive," Lin Li praised first, then asked with a smile, "But aren't free things usually the most expensive?"

"We don't need to worry about adult favors. Repaying this favor is their business. We'll just treat the accommodation as free," Chen Yuying stuck her tongue out. Turns out she was also a very filial daughter. She smiled and said:

"So we only need to consider the money for food, drinks, and entertainment. It won't cost too much. If we spend most of our time playing in the homestay, it'll be even cheaper."

Chen Yuying originally wanted to give a specific number, but after thinking about it, she realized it was hard to say. She pressed her index finger against her lips for a moment and said:

"Budget... let's cap it at three hundred yuan. If we end up spending more, I'll have my parents cover the rest for us."

"Class Rep, do you usually like using steel wool? Do you like playing with fire? Please be sure to tell me, this is really important for my future career planning!" Lin Li immediately said loudly.

Lin Li was actually a noble person who wouldn't bow down for five pecks of rice.

Five pecks of rice during Tao Yuanming's time in the Eastern Jin Dynasty was roughly equivalent to eight kilograms today. That much rice costs less than a hundred yuan in a supermarket.

However, it was obvious that the Class Rep could provide wealth far exceeding a hundred yuan.

That was no longer a matter of five pecks of rice. At this point, the only thing not bowing down was his thumb.

Chen Yuying: "?"

She naturally understood the references to steel wool and fire.

"What exactly is your career planning?" Chen Yuying said with a smile. "Actually, I could treat everyone to everything, but Wanqiu and the others would feel embarrassed."

"Class Rep, you know me. I've always been thick-skinned. Please, by all means, treat me to everything. I absolutely won't feel embarrassed," Lin Li said righteously.

"No," Chen Yuying blinked and answered the moment Lin Li finished speaking.

"Hmm?"

"I just won't treat you. I'll treat Bai Bufan, but not you. You pay for yourself."

Chen Yuying turned her head away "coldly" and even let out a soft "hmph."

"Class Rep, you've changed. In the past, when I asked you for money, you would give it to me immediately and even ask if it was enough. But now, you actually refuse me without mercy, and it's a targeted refusal. You'd rather throw this money to a dog than give it to me.

"It seems our relationship is not what it used to be."

Lin Li looked disappointed, lost, and very hurt.

"Mhm, that's right." As a result, Chen Yuying still nodded, her tone very perfunctory.

Wang Yuezhi turned his head, his eyes emitting a strange light.

Is it really not what it used to be, bro?

Seeing Chen Yuying's faint smile with her back to Lin Li, the strange light in Wang Yuezhi's eyes dissipated, and he turned his head back.

It's fake, it's not what it used to be, little bro.

"In that case, going out to play during the National Day holiday at this price, Bai Bufan shouldn't be able to refuse," Lin Li concluded.

...

"Didn't you ask me this morning if there was anything fun to do during the National Day holiday? Bufan, now there is." After the lunch break ended and Bai Bufan returned to the classroom, Lin Li said to him.

"What is it?"

"The Class Rep invited me to go out and play during the National Day holiday. Although the location and time haven't been set yet, it definitely won't be boring. So I'm inviting you. Are you coming?" Lin Li summarized.

"You actually thought of me for something like this," Bai Bufan was quite interested.

"I want to go shopping with you, watch movies with you, drink milk tea with you, and eat delicious food with you. For me, all of this is only meaningful if I do it with you. Because... I don't have any money myself," Lin Li said emotionally.

Bai Bufan, clutching his butt, had already backed away a meter, chair and all. Hearing the final twist, his face darkened, and he moved back.

He almost thought Lin Li was going crazy again.

With that last sentence, it indeed only had meaning if he was with him.

"Fuck, almost forgot to ask. So how much will this trip cost? Can the National Day holiday still have the same cost-performance ratio as the autumn outing?" Bai Bufan asked.

"Capped at three hundred per person. The wealthy Class Rep will cover any excess for us. If you pay my share, it'll only be six hundred," Lin Li explained.

"Heh, is six hundred bucks even considered money to me?" Hearing this, Bai Bufan breathed a sigh of relief, confidently spread his hands, and said with a smile.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Lin Li shook his head. A guy who managed to squeeze eight hundred bucks out of the Demon Suppression Bureau was indeed confi—

"—It's my life, Lin Li! Six hundred bucks is my life! You fucking want me to pay six hundred bucks?!" Before Lin Li could finish his thought, Bai Bufan grabbed him by the collar.

Lin Li: "..."

"If it was three bucks, I'd do some mental gymnastics, grit my teeth, and treat you. You want me to treat you to three hundred?!" Bai Bufan shook Lin Li's collar. "Besides, you got way more money than me last week, right? Where's your money?"

"My money has a use," Lin Li said honestly.

"What use?"

"I don't know, but it definitely has a use," Lin Li thought for a moment and replied. "I know! I'm going to put it in the bank and earn interest."

Bai Bufan: "?"

"You motherfucker!"

"You just need to pay for your own share. The Class Rep's plan is roughly... so just like the autumn outing, we'll be staying overnight. Will your family agree? Don't back out at the last minute," Lin Li hadn't really planned on making Bai Bufan treat him. He rubbed his collar and said.

"It's OK. My family raises me free-range. If I tell them, they'll definitely agree. They'll probably even give me some funds. It might cover all my expenses with some left over, so I won't even have to dip into my military budget," Bai Bufan nodded.

If the ultimate goal of spending money was to jerk off, then how could this money not be considered a military budget?

"You are indeed raised free-range. It shows in your personality. After all, domestic pets are usually more introverted. When guests come, they hide under the sofa and wag their tails in terror," Lin Li agreed with this point and analyzed it seriously.

Bai Bufan: "?"

You motherfucker.

In the afternoon, the school still hadn't released the school-wide rankings.

This efficiency truly lived up to being a public school.

When the last class ended and the school dismissal bell rang, the holiday safety commitment letters were handed out along with a few exam papers, meaning the National Day holiday had officially begun.

Putting on his raincoat, Lin Li rode his bike home and opened the door.

Wu Min was already sitting on the sofa looking at her phone.

"Yo, yo, yo, isn't this Sister Min, who left her own son at the school gate to fend for himself? You actually know how to come back? You actually still have this family in your heart?"

The wound of betrayal never heals. Lin Li naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity to be sarcastic.

Wu Min didn't speak immediately. She pulled a feather duster out from under the coffee table. It looked brand new, possibly even tempered.

Getting hit with that is probably going to hurt a bit.

"I don't have a son," Wu Min said.

"Then I'm sorry, Auntie. I must have opened the wrong door." Lin Li immediately slammed the door shut with a "bang."

Standing outside, he sighed.

You can't just be sarcastic whenever you want. Now look, I accidentally became an orphan.

...

This Auntie was still quite kind-hearted. After opening the door and seeing the orphan Lin Li, she ultimately chose to adopt him.

"Mom, I'm probably going out to play for a few days during the National Day holiday..." Eating the food Wu Min cooked, Lin Li gave her a heads-up.

"Are there any girls?"

Parents always prioritize asking if there are members of the opposite sex.

"Yes," Lin Li told the truth.

"Do you still have living expenses? Mom will give you some more. When you go out to play with girls, don't be too stingy." Sure enough, Wu Min was much more generous at this time. She said, "How much do you need?"

Lin Li thought for a moment and looked at Wu Min eagerly: "Mom, we're planning to pool our money to buy a homestay. It's about three million and three hundred per person. I currently have a shortfall of about three million. Please cover it for me, thank you."

Wu Min: "..."

Only her son could say something like "pooling three million."

Going out to play and pooling money to buy a building, huh?

And saying thank you, how polite.

"I'll give you thirty million." Suppressing the urge to dump the food on her son's head, Wu Min sneered.

"Really, Mom? After all these years, are you finally going to tell me I'm actually a rich second generation?" Lin Li was a bit expectant.

"These thirty million are: ten million (qian wan) be happy, ten million be joyful, and ten million sleep with one eye open." Wu Min also responded to Lin Li's expectations.

(Translator's Note: "Qian wan" means ten million, but it's also an idiom meaning "by all means" or "make sure to").

"Does that last ten million mean you're going to kill me? Even a vicious tiger doesn't eat its cubs, Sister Min!" Lin Li's expectation turned into terror.

"I'll transfer you five hundred bucks later. You figure out the remaining three million yourself. Mom can't help you," Wu Min didn't respond to that, but said, "When the time comes, tell me the names of the classmates going with you. If I can't reach you, I can ask them."

Wu Min still trusted Lin Li's independence, but she still had basic care and concern.

"That's enough, that's enough. You've worked hard lately, Mom. Eat more." The filial Lin Li started putting food in his mother's bowl.

He only gave her the potatoes he didn't like to eat.

Not a single piece of meat.

...

Punished by Wu Min to finish all the potatoes, Lin Li rubbed his bloated stomach and lay on his bed.

Taking out his phone, Bai Bufan confirmed again that he had absolutely no problem going out to play; his family had already agreed.

[Chen Yuying: Yu Yu has to visit her grandparents, Muyang's family already has travel plans... so in the end, it's just us again. @Lin Li, is Bai Bufan coming?]

[Lin Li: He's coming. It seems I still have to drag him in after all.]

[Lin Li invited Bai Bufan to join the group chat.]

[Chen Yuying started a group voice call.]

"I actually got into this group?" The first thing Bai Bufan did upon joining the voice call was tease Lin Li.

"The Emperor always needs a eunuch by his side. Find a chance to castrate yourself, Bufan," Lin Li laughed majestically.

"Your Majesty, this servant has a small question. I see the name of your group is 'Three People and a Dog.' May I ask what role Your Majesty plays in this?" Bai Bufan immediately found a weak point to attack.

"They are the three people, and I am the 'one' (top), the super fierce kind." However, Lin Li answered instantly.

Bai Bufan fell silent for a moment.

There aren't many options left for me.

"Fuck."

The others in the voice call immediately started laughing.

"Alright, let's get down to business. It's no fun going out when it's raining. I checked the weather forecast, and it's going to rain tomorrow and the day after. So let's head out on the 3rd?" Chen Yuying said after stopping her laughter.

Everyone agreed.

"Since we don't know how long we'll be out playing, everyone should try to finish their homework over these two days. There isn't much anyway. Now let's discuss where to go. The places with homestays are..."

The five of them started discussing. Lin Li and Bai Bufan mainly played the role of hype men, responsible for saying "Ah, yes, yes, yes."

In the end, the three girls decided to go to Shanting Town. It wasn't far, adjacent to Nansang County. It was a coastal town with mountains and water, and there were indeed more places to play than in Xiling.

They discussed their travel plans a bit more and didn't hang up until late at night.

After refusing Bai Bufan's invitation to play games and ruthlessly insulting him, Lin Li started studying for the Subject 1 and Subject 2 driving tests.

This way, when they went out to play, he could find an opportunity to teach this knowledge to Chen Yuying.

Photographic Memory was as useful as ever.

After studying until 10:30 PM, Lin Li went to sleep beautifully.

September 30th, today was also an ordinary day.

(End of Chapter)